SYSTEMS AND METHODS DERIVING HYDRAULIC FRACTURE GROWTH FROM MICROSEISMICITY ANALYSIS

摘要

An illustrative monitoring system for a hydraulic fracturing operation includes: a data acquisition module collecting microseismic signals from a subterranean formation undergoing a hydraulic fracturing operation; a processing module implementing a monitoring method; and a visualization module that displays an estimate or prediction of fracture extent. The monitoring method implemented by the processing module includes: deriving microseismic event locations and times from the microseismic signals; fitting at least one fracture plane to the microseismic event locations; projecting each microseismic event location onto at least one fracture plane; determining a time-dependent distribution of the projected microseismic event locations; calculating one or more envelope parameters from the time-dependent distribution; and generating an estimate or prediction of fracture extent using the one or more envelope parameters. The envelope parameters may include an exponent of a time -power law, and said generating may include re-fitting the fracture plane if the exponent isn't approximately one-half.